"Very well," said Applebo, and stepped down into the skiff, placing the dory-compass under the sternsheets. "We don't need that," said he. "How about finding the yawl again?" "We can find her. That is one of my few natural gifts." Hermione picked up her oars and began to pull in the direction of the bell. Applebo, lounging in the stern, watched her long, vigorous strokes. Her green tam was frosted with the mist; the thick black hair had also a silver rime, but cheeks and lips and sapphire eyes defied the sad grey of the humid world through which they drifted like alien spirits, seeking their own place. Hermione, looking at Applebo as she pulled along, found him very pleasing to her eyes. He, too, wore the badge of the warm, comforting earth which claimed them both, however much they might adapt themselves to the sea. The colourless gloom, filtering out above all of the reds and yellows from the generous sun-rays, those in which the poet was so rich, glowed like autumn leaves of a November day. His hair shone like a marigold and his skin was of the luscious tint of a russet orange. Also, there was a radiance of expression which Hermione ascribed to filial devotion, long suppressed. No doubt some of it was. The steady ringing of the _Shark's_ bell grew louder. Suddenly Applebo raised his hand. His trained eye had caught the straight, slim column of a mast rising into the thinner atmosphere aloft. Hermione caught the water with her oars and shoved vigorously astern. The way of the skiff fully checked, she rested on her oars. "_Shark_ ahoy...!" she hailed. "Hello!" came the voice of Heldstrom. "So dere you are!" There was a note of great relief in the heavy bass. "I am not coming aboard just yet," called Hermione. "Yes, you must!" called Heldstrom. "Your fadder has yoost sent vord ... 'Stop ringin' that bell!'" "Stop it then," retorted Hermione. "I don't need it. The weather is clearing. I can see your spars." "You can see nodding!" growled Heldstrom, "but I can see fere you go out no more ven der vedder iss t'ick! Next time you get no boat, yoong lady!" "I will be back in a few minutes," said Hermione. "_Au revoir_..." She dipped her oars and pulled off into the fog, leaving Heldstrom growling impotently on the schooner's deck. "My parent," Applebo observed, "appears to be a bit of a despot." "He is a dear," said Hermione. "You will catch it when you go back." "No. He will say nothing, but wait until next time. Before then I will have told him why I prolonged my leave. Now tell me just what you would like to have me say. Do you wish me to tell him all that you have told me?"